Short-term effects of norethisterone oenanthate and medroxyprogesterone acetate on glucose, insulin, growth hormone, and lipids.

The effects on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in 24 healthy female subjects of the long-acting steroid contraceptives norethisterone oenanthate (200 mg) (11 subjects) and depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate (150 mg) (13 subjects) were studied. The subjects were between the ages of 18 and 25 years, with a history of normal menstrual periods. Pretreatment levels of plasma cholesterol, plasma triglycerides, phospholipids, blood glucose, insulin, and growth hormone were compared with those obtained 3 weeks and 12 weeks after the initial injections. There were no statistically significant differences from the pretreatment levels in any of the values obtained at 3 weeks and 12 weeks in either group.